What do you do when the doctor can't see you for 3 months? - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

rmejia · 02-06-2001, 09:56 AM

I went to my doctor last week because I had a tremor that had started in my hands/arms the previous week. They did a bunch of blood tests and they came back fine so she wanted to send me to a neurologist. I finally get a hold of the Neurologist and he can't see me until the middle of April. In the mean time my tremor is shaking my whole body and my muscles seem to get weaker every day. I am only 23 years old, so I know it is not normal aging. My muscles are twitching, I struggle to walk up stairs, in fact I struggle to walk in general, my walk has turned to a shuffle in the matter of 2 weeks. And to top it off my muscles in my legs feel like they are on fire when ever I finish walking. But yet I can't get anyone to look at me until April.

I've been told to call my doctor back and someone else suggested to just go to the ER. I honestly don't know what to do. How could I possibly just find a neurologist out of the phone book.

Help Please!

Becki

auntjudyg · 02-06-2001, 11:30 AM

It can be unbelievable, can't it? Six to eight weeks is the worst I have heard of in the normal course of events. But I did hear of one doctor with a one-year wait, but he had some kind of strange specialty.

I would call your doctor back to see whether he could refer you to someone else. Or does you local hospital/health center have a referral service?

I hope all works out well.

sdp · 02-06-2001, 12:06 PM

I had a ruptured disk and wanted to see a neurosurgeon who was fairly well known and respected in the field. The next available appt. was in 3 months. I had already seen a neuro who was refered by my insurance but I didn't like/trust his opinion. This reputable guy was a second opinion out of my own pocket. Anyways, my aunt was his patient and she called and pleaded with the receptionist and she scheduled an appt. in 2 weeks.

They may be busy but you should push the issue that you can't wait. There are always some openings except that new patients get pushed out to wait. Maybe you should go to the office directly. It's a lot harded to reject a person when you're face-to-face.

Harry · 02-07-2001, 07:39 AM

Hi Becki,
I know you must be a very frustrated person. I guess doctors see so much suffering they get immune after a while. I would go to the ER and have them call in a doctor. I certainly wouldn't wait 3 months. Sometime you just have to be very proactive.
God Bless---Harry

Kathryn · 02-07-2001, 12:20 PM

would you feel uncomfortable going to the ER? That's what I would do. After all this doesn't sound like normal symptoms... it sounds very scary and you should be seen sooner than your appointment.